We are the Game Masters and this is our world. For many millennia, the small planet named Earth has continued a mundane, un-noteworthy existence. Then, the metahumans came. Slowly at first, the genetic creations of this new dawn soon began to sweep the planet - ranging from every continent to every sea. The Blue Blur of Chicago. Icon and The Archangel of Lost Haven. Inferno of New York. These metahumans increased awareness and ushered in a new age in human evolution. It has been an exciting, unpredictable adventure - and it has only begun.

Super Terrestrial Review Inside Known Encounters, or S.T.R.I.K.E., had waged a war against the metahuman population of not only Lost Haven, but around the world. Eventually, Director Alexander Anderson's corruption was exposed and the organization was disbanded. However, there were casualties in the war between S.T.R.I.K.E. Most notably, the man who was widely regarded as the leader of the Guardians, Icon was killed in action defending Lost Haven from the Director's fail safe weapon, the creature known as Endgame.

The people of Earth now rejoice as the multinational Lunar Restoration Initiative complete their work on the surface the moon, rejoining the fractured portions and making the moon whole once again, thus removing one of the largest reminders of the Arlaaekean invasion.

With the dust settled from the battle between S.T.R.I.K.E and the metahuman population, things seem to be returning to a state of normalcy. However, as they are about to learn, in this new world there is no such thing as normalcy. Many secrets and lies have yet to be uncovered. Is Area 51 really just a testing site for experimental aircraft - or is there something more sinister about its nature? Does the city of Atlantis lie submerged in the ocean - or is it the product of pure fantasy? The key to uncovering these answers lies with the metahuman.

Kyle Porter sits up in his hospital bed as the nurse enters his room and takes a few last minute readings before the hospital can send him on his way. He is anxious to get out of the room that has been his home for the last week. He has never particularly liked hospitals, and after spending a week there, he is in no rush to come back anytime soon.

There was a knock on the door and suddenly he saw the familiar features of Samantha Myers pop into the room. His oldest friend looked around for a moment before entering.

"Just wanted to make sure you're decent." She quipped as she approached his bed.

"Yeah. I'm good to go. Just waiting to get the OK from the doctors." He said.

Sam took a seat beside the bed as Kyle packed the few possessions that he had in the hospital room into a small plastic bag. After several long minutes, the nurse came in and told him that the last tests came back clear and that he was free to go.

"Awesome. Let's head down to the lobby and wait for my dad." He said cheerily.

"Um...your dad can't make it. He had to fly out to Pacific Point last night for business. He asked me to come get you." She said, somewhat apologetically.

"So...you're my ride?" He asked.

"You're quick, aren't you?" She said with a grin.

"Oh great...first the crash and now this....Somebody really wants me dead." He joked even as she smacked him on the arm as they made their way down the hall.

It was difficult to wrap her head around the changes to the world in the short time she had been away from it. Upon waking up from the coma induced by Walter after the attack outside Guardian HQ, Pinup had learned through one source or another that nothing was, nor ever would be, the same. It seemed to have happened so suddenly, and so quietly, to her, that her response seemed fittingly unceremonious.

It was easy to leave the headquarters relatively undetected. Far easier than she ever would have suspected. The woman had made it a habit throughout her decades of extended life to reinvent herself regularly, and knowing exactly how to do it made everything so much easier. There was nothing left of her in the Guardians' headquarters but an empty cage and a note on the piano "If you need me, you'll find me. P.S. If you find Methuselah, take care of him."

She had no doubt the note was true - it was a den of superheroes, one of whom was incredibly paranoid and didn't seem to lack inside connections. They'd find her, wherever she ended up, if it was really so important.

Pinup couldn't imagine what would ever be so important again. After being hit with the anti-meta serum, she was on borrowed time. Her powers, and her life, were diminishing slowly. After decades of suspended aging, she could feel the change moving inside her like the ticks of a billion little clocks, all slowly winding their way down to nothing. Most people would find the change disturbing, even depressing. But there was a certain sense of liberty in knowing one is going to die, and Pinup embraced it, heart open and hopes high as she turned onto the highway, heading westward out of town from Lost Haven. She ran over names in her mind, as she decided what she would call herself, whenever she decided to stop. Nothing presented itself easily, but she decided she had a long way to go before that would matter.

Molly-Ann Pym watched the scantily clad blonde sachet off stage, her rhinestone G-string sparkling under the lights. Molly found if she tilted her head just right, she could just catch a glimpse of the dancer's ass as she stood offstage, double-checking her information with the stage manager. Damn. It was a fine ass.

“What do you think?”“Huh?” Molly tore her eyes away from the glittering blonde and swivelled them to the woman sitting next to her, one Tart Nouveau.
“I think it's astonishing so many women showed up for a burlesque audition.” Molly looked down at her clipboard, pretending to re-read the dancer's resume.

“I put out the word to the dance studios. Most of them are students.” Nouveau replied with a bemused sigh. “And most of them can't dance.”

“God blessum for trying, though.” Molly replied as she scribbled the words 'nice ass' under the dancer's headshot.

“Have you seen enough to cast a chorus?” Nouveau looked up at Molly, her cat-eyed makeup and flawlessly sleek brown hair casting shame on Molly-Ann's own hurried red ponytail and lipgloss routine.

“I won't lie.” She grinned. “I'm prepared to see lots more. Do you still need a compere for this show?”

“No.” Nouveau replied sharply, in a manner that told Molly she meant more than the question. “I'm not letting you do this.”

“The only time you're ever interested in hosting one of my shows is when you want to bag one of my dancers, and I'm not letting you do that to Katie. And I don't plan on casting the blonde with two left feet and no rhythm anyway, so you can forget it.”
“She has a nice ass.” Molly retorted plainly.

“And no idea what to do with it.” Tart settled back in her seat, scratching out the dancer's name from her list with a flourish.

Tart Nouveau wasn't her real name. Her real name was Christine Sharp. She and Molly-Ann had grown up in the same small suburbanite town in the middle of Nowhere, USA, and had both made their grand escapes to California shortly after high school. Though she was only a few years older than Molly-Ann, Tart had proven a hard worker and a natural talent at the business end of show business, and by the time she was only twenty-four, she and her husband Danny owned and operated the Gilded Lily House of Burlesque – one of the most successful burlesque reviews in the nation. After Molly-Ann graduated and moved to California, Tart had thrown her a bone, letting her work on the design team for her shows, which were the prime attraction of the Gilded Lily.

“Why are you here anyway?” Tart arched an eyebrow in Molly's direction as she leafed through the pile of resumes. “You're not required to come to auditions.”
“Eh... Katie's dad is in town.” Molly laces her ankles on the back of the seat in front of her, slouching down into the red velvet theatre chair and doing a double take over some headshots.

“That was this weekend!?” Tart's eyes widened and she turned to Molly, a look of shock on her face. “You promised you'd be there for - “
“I know!” Molly-Ann cut her off. “I know I did, I just... I don't really see the point.”

“Mol, your girlfriend is coming out to her parents! How exactly do you not see the point!?”
“I just DON'T, Tart!” Molly threw up her hands.

“You're going to leave her there to do it alone.” Molly didn't have to look over to tell her best friend was staring daggers through her.

“She won't do it if I'm not there.”

“So you don't want her to come out?” Tart turned in her seat, resting the resumes on her knee and her head in her free hand.
“I just -” Molly tilted her head back, counting the Fresnels and wishing she could avoid the conversation.

“You don't think you'll be together long enough for it to matter.” Tart finished vindictively.

Bingo.

“That's not it.” Molly-Ann squirmed in her seat.

That was exactly it.

“Look, everyone else may put up with your ****, Mol, but this is me.” Tart indicated her flawlessly made-up face with her immaculately manicured hand “Katie obviously thinks you're sticking around long enough to make this worthwhile. Are you?”

Molly squirmed visibly in her seat, uncomfortable with the implications of any answer she might give. Her silence seemed to answer Tart's question well enough.

“Well if you are, you need to get over there and support her and if you're not, then you need to do the right thing and break up with her already. She's not one of your skeevy little one-nighters. She's better than that and you need to treat her like it. Either way, you need to get the hell outta here and go talk to her.”

“Yeah...” Molly-Ann nodded slightly to herself before standing. “Yeah, okay.” She tossed the headshots onto Tart's pile. “And for the record, choreographically challenged blondes don't do it for me.” She shrugged on her patched denim jacket she had had since freshman year of high school. “It was the ginger with the balloon-pop routine.”

“Go home, Mol.” Tart ordered, not acknowledging the comment.
“Yeah.” Molly-Ann walked up the aisle and out into the lobby. Reaching for her phone, she pressed a number on speed dial and waited nervously for an answer on the other line.

“Hey, Jason! Yeah, I'm off for the rest of the day – you wanna go climbing?” Relief swept over her as she was assured of a few more hours of avoiding her apartment and her no-doubt enraged girlfriend.

“Excuse me...?” Another man behind the desk spoke for the fat man who had previously addressed them.

“Oh, I’m sorry... I said ‘Bulls***’.”

The Director turned his attention to the black-garbed pest, without moving from his desk. He doesn’t give the honour of a vocal response to the outburst.

“There’s no possible way that this could be legal.”

The Director himself replied this time, “I think you’ll find that for all intents and purposes, it is. The Guardians initiative has been broken up among several branches and organisations. We have drafted you as assets.”

“I never signed anything. Nothing has my mark. In all my time, we came to agreements... Nothing was ever on paper. We came to the conclusion that I had to remember an elongated code just to overcome my refusal to have to sign, or leave a finger print or have an ocular scan.”

“So there was no paper trail in your case..?”

“Exactly.”

“Which is funny, because I seem to have these requisition forms here... for equipment, for access costs. Marked as being for the Vigilante...”

“Oh come on... I never signed anything though. We had our agreements and they may have equipped me, but that doesn’t mean I was under any kind of binding contract that could...”

“Hmm... what’s this?” The Director calmly nudging a device on his desk. A smart board on one wall bursts into life, from the slight movement of the mouse. The arrow glides smoothly across the screen until it rests on top of a file titled V.wav.

“Well... I wonder if this could have anything interesting to add to our current situation...”

Isaac got nervous. What could possibly be in there that he’s trying to worm around? I haven’t done anything. I never signed a thing. I was meticulous.

The mouse button double-clicks audibly.

“So, you’re giving me...Clik. Whirflipfjgs...”

The Director fast-forwards the audio track. “We don’t need to hear all of this.”

“Whifkdj... Clik. And I just have to remember a longer code and...Clik.Whirfplipfjs...”

“We’ll get there. A lot of other stuff we don’t need to waste our time with...”

“Whifkdj... Clik. And a kick-arse car to boot? Well, as I said. So long as you’ll respect my anonymity and understand that at times it may take me up to 24 hours to get on the scene... You’ve got yourself a Guardian...Clik.”

“Hmm...”

“What ‘Hmm..’? That’s it? You’re going to hang me on that kind of thin verbal contract? That would never stand up in court!”

“Probably not...”

Isaac smirked through his balaklava.

“... but if this thing got dragged through court then we’d have to try and match up a known voice sample of yours, break out the decryption software, peel back the voice modulation...”

The smirk dropped from the Vigilante’s face.

“What we were also able to do was draft someone you may remember...” The Director changed the beat. Pulling strings.

The door open and a figure gingerly entered the room.

“He just started to get up and about again this morning and wanted to greet you all. But even laid out he was most useful in helping us identify the most utilised ordnance, allowing us to secure most of your regular equipment. There were a lot of scavengers and we weren’t able to get it all, but we got most of it.”

Gunny awkwardly raised a hand to give a half-wave before lowering it again. Still too soon for that.

“...and of course we already have some gear of our own for field operatives. Of course the Federal Government has acknowledged that since we’ve taken on much of the Human Resources of the Guardians initiative, we will need additional funding for the inevitable overheads... but that won’t sort itself out until the end of the financial year.”

“So basically, ‘Don’t use two grenades where one will do...’”

That wasn’t the Vigilante, although he was thinking it awfully loud - albeit in a sarcastic tone rather than the sycophantic one which spoke, it was one of the people already from the group Isaac would get to know only as 'The Agency'.

The Director spoke again, “Now we have our own rules which some of you are going to have to get used to... but not yet. I’ve had a brief opportunity to get a look at how you work as a team, frankly, I haven’t been overly impressed, but that opportunity hasn’t really been long enough to make any long term decisions over procedures.”

“So we’re going to have an observation period.” The kissass voice broke the silence once again.

“Thank you, Alberts. Yes, we’ll be having an observation period. We’ll spread you out in similar patrols and roles that you were filling before, operating under the same general principles... where possible.”

“And then?” The Survivor’s gruff voice punched through the silence.

“Then change, Survivor... isn't it? The name's apt. Evolve or Die.”

__________________
[/JOKE]

16,18, not much difference mentally or physically. It's a number over there. Here however it's the difference between mid life crisis with hot chicks with daddy issues and pound me in the ass prison. - Anubis

More Anubis' greatest hits:
"Families are Gods way of teaching us to get along with people we don't particularly like."

Adam begins walking around his darkened lab studying various computer monitors as Colter enters the room.

Colter says, "Sir you've been at this for 10 hours straight. You really should give yourself time for a treatment."

Adam replies without looking up from his computer monitors, "I am well aware of my time constraints at this time Colter than you for your concern."

Colter says, "Not to mention Sir this obsession with Eve is starting become dangerously unhealthy for you. Everything you say and do is centered around her destruction."

Adam finally looks away from the monitor and crosses to Colter. Who takes a step back as Adam stops and says, "Colter you do not fully understand what is going on."

He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly and says, "The Society destroyed what I was. The never fully realized my genius and what I had done, was doing, and promised yet to do for them. I came up with the concept of Eve and now they are rubbing it in my face! With her riding around doing her Good Samaritan act!"

Adam says, "No no I have never felt healthier in my life Colter. This is all about being patient and carefully laid plans coming together at the right time."

Adam then recomposes himself and says, "Again my friend your concern is noted and appreciated. Go ahead and set up my treatment and then have dinner waiting for me along with the latest financial news uploaded to my I-Pad."

Colter bows and leaves as Adam follows him out.

__________________
Know yourself & your enemy & you need not fear the outcome of a thousand battles-- General Sun-Tzu

Kyle Porter sits up in his hospital bed as the nurse enters his room and takes a few last minute readings before the hospital can send him on his way. He is anxious to get out of the room that has been his home for the last week. He has never particularly liked hospitals, and after spending a week there, he is in no rush to come back anytime soon.

There was a knock on the door and suddenly he saw the familiar features of Samantha Myers pop into the room. His oldest friend looked around for a moment before entering.

"Just wanted to make sure you're decent." She quipped as she approached his bed.

"Yeah. I'm good to go. Just waiting to get the OK from the doctors." He said.

Sam took a seat beside the bed as Kyle packed the few possessions that he had in the hospital room into a small plastic bag. After several long minutes, the nurse came in and told him that the last tests came back clear and that he was free to go.

"Awesome. Let's head down to the lobby and wait for my dad." He said cheerily.

"Um...your dad can't make it. He had to fly out to Pacific Point last night for business. He asked me to come get you." She said, somewhat apologetically.

"So...you're my ride?" He asked.

"You're quick, aren't you?" She said with a grin.

"Oh great...first the crash and now this....Somebody really wants me dead." He joked even as she smacked him on the arm as they made their way down the hall.

"See you guys tomorrow." Kyle said as he excused himself from his friends gathered around the table inside Lost Haven University's resident dining hall.

It had been three days since he had been released from the hospital, and things were finally getting back to normal. When he first arrived back to campus after the accident, his friends coddled him, tending to his every need. However, it didn't last.

Soon, things had returned to normal, and he was subject to the same ridicule and torment as everyone else.

And he wouldn't have it any other way.

He made his way back toward his dorm room, after first stopping at the convenience store around the corner. As he approached the small alley that he used as a shortcut to his dorm he heard a sudden commotion.

He looked back, seeing a pair of headlights bearing down on him.

"Oh ****." He said as a cargo van raced out of control toward him. Just as the van was about to hit him, he leaped into the air, grabbing hold of the bottom of a nearby fire escape.

Kyle dangled from the fire escape as the cargo van continued on its way as if nothing had happened.

"See you guys tomorrow." Kyle said as he excused himself from his friends gathered around the table inside Lost Haven University's resident dining hall.

It had been three days since he had been released from the hospital, and things were finally getting back to normal. When he first arrived back to campus after the accident, his friends coddled him, tending to his every need. However, it didn't last.

Soon, things had returned to normal, and he was subject to the same ridicule and torment as everyone else.

And he wouldn't have it any other way.

He made his way back toward his dorm room, after first stopping at the convenience store around the corner. As he approached the small alley that he used as a shortcut to his dorm he heard a sudden commotion.

He looked back, seeing a pair of headlights bearing down on him.

"Oh ****." He said as a cargo van raced out of control toward him. Just as the van was about to hit him, he leaped into the air, grabbing hold of the bottom of a nearby fire escape.

Kyle dangled from the fire escape as the cargo van continued on its way as if nothing had happened.

"Oh boy....."

Ronnie Chang sat in silent disbelief as Kyle relayed the story of the prior night's events. In his 21 years, he heard it all, or at least he thought he had. However, Kyle's story took the cake.

"Bull." Was all he was able to manage to say.

"What?" Kyle said.

"Bull. I don't buy it."

Kyle grabbed his bag from Ronnie's couch and headed to the door.

"You coming?" He called over his shoulder.

"Where?" Ronnie asked.

"I'm going to show you." He said as Ronnie got to his feet and followed him from the dorm.

The gentle scraping of a mouse on a desktop as a long island blinked into view on the office’s smartboard.

“This… is Moloka’i.” The Director uttered as the Doctor positioned herself near the smartboard in anticipation of her turn to speak.

“It’s a bit over 250 square miles in area and less than a week ago had an estimated population in the region of slightly under 8,000…” The Director stalled for effect and swivelled in his chair towards the Vigilante.

“…at present it would be significantly less than that. Maybe 8. Maybe…”

The mouse clicks. The image changed from the island to the figure of a human, considerably the worse for wear.

“Jeez-us f***ing Chr…”

“Doctor…”

“This is Patient Zero, from Queens, New York.” The Doctor stated. “Last Wednesday she began showing signs of her disease…”

“That’s a f***ing woman?!?”

“Keep it down.” The Director ordered sternly.

“…facial lesions and major skin trauma, extreme degradation of the flesh…”

“I’m going to be f***ing sick...”

“Hey!” The Director barked.

“…Thursday the lesions had begun to spread, although still nowhere near the level we’re now seeing…”

“Thank f*** for that…”

“…she was able to see a doctor, late Thursday afternoon and a diagnosis was made.”

“And her Doctor let her go to on holiday looking like that?!?”

“She still didn’t look like this at that point, this photograph is the most recent we have… now please.”

“OK, sorry… What was the diagnosis?”

“Well, fortunately for us she was mis-diagnosed... With a disease many mistakenly believe to be dead in the Western world… Hansen’s disease.”

“Hansen’s disease?”

“Leprosy.” The Director replied. “Now let her talk.”

“It became apparent that this was a gross misrepresentation of her disease on Sunday morning, but fortunately she was in relative isolation at this point.”

“Eh?”

The Director speaks up. “I’ll field this one. It’s one of our country’s dirty little secrets that there’s a leper colony still operating on Moloka’i. The island was famous for it up until fairly recently and it’s strong in their history.”

“Thank you. Sunday morning Patient Zero began to show strong signs of aggression… uncharacteristic of the disease. She had bitten and scratched many who had attempted to restrain her.”

“Yesterday, less than 18 hours ago, this was transmitted and we received it shortly after…” The Doctor indicated to the Director who clicked the mouse again.

“The transmission at this point ends. We have two theories as to why. One is that they were also killed… The other is that they’ve been maintaining radio silence for fear of attracting unwanted attention to themselves.” The Director calmly stated.

“Fear of attracting her attention? But she’s frail, and they’d barricaded themselves in.”

“…Here’s where it gets a little interesting.” The Doctor began. “Patient Zero is the name for the first link of an epidemic. The disease, which we can now confirm is not Hansen’s Disease has been spreading via blood – these scratch marks and bite marks to be precise. And we can’t stress that enough. This disease is not airborne.”

“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like where this is going..?” Isaac thought.

“But the people she’s been scratching and biting have, upon infection, immediately gone into a feverish state…”

“I can feel it coming…”

“until their bodies have literally burnt out, died and…”

“Here it comes…”

“…re-awaken some time later. These people, after dying, are then in turn also prone to extreme acts of aggression, only unlike Patient Zero they have been found to be immediately aggressive upon re-animation.”

“aaaand Thank you and good night…”

“So your situation is that you’ve got an island full of zombies..?”

“Well, we intend to try to play it away from the ‘Z’ word somewhat, if and when this leaks…” The Director said.

Isaac gives the Director a penetrating glare.

“But effectively yes… View it however it best makes sense to you.”

Isaac pinched the balaklava from the bridge of his nose, “So where do I come into this exactly?”

“Well, after the seriousness of this situation was discovered a major meeting was called together. The Agency had just absorbed the human resources of the Guardians as assets a few days beforehand, which is why this was also brought to my own attention as well as various other Department heads and … well… Power Players.”

“Get to the point.”

“Well, with the recent loss of the Icon, Blake came to the conclusion that we really aren’t in a position to handle this situation and gave the executive order for Moloka’i to be scorched. Carpet bombings of incendiaries to wipe out all trace of the virus. That recording is no proof that there are still any survivors on that island right now and it’s hard to justify the risk of any other action at this point in time for “potential survivors” which may or may not exist.”

“I found that unacceptable.” He added.

“I said that I have an alternate strategy, but the President was still somewhat reluctant to consider it…”

“He was a stubborn prick.” The Vigilante interjected.

“Your words, not mine...” The Director, added before going on. “I mentioned that Moloka’i was clearly visible to Maui… And the many tourists all armed with cameras and the media who are currently on site due to the Maui Scholastic Surfing Competition which gets pretty heavy coverage… and did he really want to risk firebombing an entire Hawaiian island in full view of the American people without even a token effort to extract any potential survivors.”

The Vigilante gave a smirk of appreciation at the Director’s work.

“He reconsidered.”

“’The Guardians Initiative was put together for exactly this reason, and whilst they may be undergoing major changes they are still our first response unit.’ Were his exact words.”

“Changed his tune in a hurry… heh.”

“Well, not exactly. There was still some deliberation. Some conditions at hand. Well one, really.”

“And what was that..?” Isaac uttered, sensing that he knew what the answer would be.

“It had to be you.”

“Me? Why me?”

“Well, prior to Icon’s passing recently he would have been our sole option for this mission. He’d have been given express orders to remain in the airspace and not to touch down on Moloka’i soil unless it was completely safe to do so, and only to airlift survivors out to a vessel off the coast where they would be quarantined to confirm they don’t carry the virus. Any bites or scratches would be unacceptable and would require him to…”

“To kill himself. You were going to ask him to kill himself? Would that have even been possible? Through conventional means?”

“We would hope it wouldn’t come to that. We would hope that the order itself would provide enough weight for him to use extreme caution, for such an order to never be necessary.”

“Well how the hell did we go from Icon to me? That’s a pretty big power drop-off.”

“Well the President’s explanation was that with Icon’s own specific power-set risk would be minimal to himself if he took proper precaution. He could fly over the island, optic blast the hell out of the, for lack of a better term, zombies. Hear any calls for help. Fly too quick for them to touch him. Drop in, grab survivors and get the hell out. As close to zero risk as you could imagine… so long as he took precautions.”

“So how did we go from that to me.”

“Well…”

“…it was more the potential risk to humanity if we sent anyone else other than you.”

“What?”“Knew it… That’s just great… Feels good to be loved, America…”

“Well, unlike ‘conventional’ zombies like in the movies. These people don’t exactly lumber around…” The Doctor started again.

“Whilst they are deceased, they still move and function in a way that they would generally be capable. They run, they chase, they… can jump, although it’s not the most co-ordinated thing in the world. We believe that because they are dead their hunger is strong because of their bodies’ rather unnatural function. Metabolising food is hardly efficient so they have to eat a lot, or their body effectively feeds on its own flesh to continue animation.”

The Director continued where the Doctor left off, “So since they are capable of maintaining many of their regular functions, we can’t send in someone who can run fast enough to run across the top of the sea. Any infection to someone would be unacceptable… Likewise Survivor, whilst it’s possible his body would regenerate and burn the disease out of his body before it would take hold, we still don’t know that. The potential risk of an unkillable zombie is unacceptable… We still don’t understand fully how the Archangel’s powers work… But a flying zombie isn’t really something we’re willing to risk either…”

“So basically you volunteered me because ‘F*** it, why not?’”

“Well, that’s not how I pitched it…”

“You think Blake isn’t thinking that way?”

“I wouldn’t presume to know the way the President of the United States thinks…”

“Nice dodge…”

"So you're not going to go?"

The Vigilante sighed deep and said exactly what the Director knew he would - "Now I didn't say that, did I?"

"Good, Gunny will be equipping you for the assignment. Please refrain from telling anyone else. With the delicacy of the situation at hand we can't have leaks. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't discuss this with the others until after your quarantine period as well. The less people know about this assignment the better, it will break eventually. But for now we keep it to ourselves. We 4, no more. Understand?"

"Perfectly..."

"Who would I talk to anyway these days..?" Isaac thought to himself as he left for equipment.

__________________
[/JOKE]

16,18, not much difference mentally or physically. It's a number over there. Here however it's the difference between mid life crisis with hot chicks with daddy issues and pound me in the ass prison. - Anubis

More Anubis' greatest hits:
"Families are Gods way of teaching us to get along with people we don't particularly like."

Colter looks at him strangely for a moment and Phoenix says, "When I designed her Neural Net I left in a seemingly benign command line. One among the hundreds which would always leave me a way into her Neural Net. I suspect it's still there."

Phoenix enters in some more commands and then suddenly Eve's Neural Net appears on one of the monitors.

A command line says, "Welcome Back Mr. Collins."

Phoenix asks, "Is the room ready?"

Colter replies, "Yes sir."

Phoenix says, "Good. Then it is time for the Golden Child to fall."

He enters a few commands and smiles as he says, "Be ready my friend we will be having a guest within the hour."

__________________
Know yourself & your enemy & you need not fear the outcome of a thousand battles-- General Sun-Tzu

"Hey, listen. I get it. This is heavy stuff to be dropped on you. Same thing happened to me, kinda-sorta. But being attached to this place isn't the worst thing that can happen." I glance at the Fatman. "Close sometimes, but not quite." The Fatman just smiles.

I clap my hands together and hop off the desk. "Tell you what. Hawkes, the Doc, and I will give you all the grand tour. Make your feel at home. OK?" I wave them towards the door while guiding the reluctant Hawkes by his arm. It takes some cajoling, but I finally get them outside.
"So, my name's Darren. That's The Doctor. And that ray of sunshine is Bobby-"

"Agent Hawkes."
"We love him for his personality. Ok, follow me everyone," -as I hopefully take your mind off that delightful indoctrination- "and we'll head down to the Keep. That's what I call The Doctor's lab." Nothing. "Hmm...inside joke, I guess."
"Yes, very humorous," she says with a mild eye roll.

As I play tour guide, Hawkes takes the opportunity to walk next to Mr. Bondage, who, by the way, earned some points with me after trying to show up the Fatman.

"So, don't like the idea of working with the government, huh? Not very patriotic there."

Oh crap...

***

"Sir," Alberts says, "are you absolutely certain this is the best idea?"

The Director's smile quickly drops.
"...What could go wrong?"

__________________
I don't care about your deathmatches. Don't even ask. I'll just report it as spam.

OOC: FYI, the beginning of this post will start in 3rd person but it is pretty obvious when it changes back to my usual 1st person POV for Michael.

There is a loud, almost like thunder, sound in the skies above. The skies are clear, however...no such thunderstorms in plain sight. Something comes flying at incredible speed. No. Not flying...falling. As what fell crashes into the ground, seconds later, someone donning a blue and silver uniform is visible, getting up from the massive attack. For something else was responsible for the crash land.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiteMare Shape

"Get out of my way." Icon said to his friends as he looked up to the sky where Endgame continued to conjure his hellish maelstrom.

"You've done you're part Icon, let us handle the rest." Piston said.

"You need to rest, we can finish this." Michael urged him.

"No, I have to see this through. Kayla...if anything happens to me...make sure you tell Keira that I love her." He said clutching his stomach, noting the fear in Starlight's eyes as she say the blood pouring from the wound."I will." She said in little more than a whisper.

With that Icon took to the skies racing toward Endgame. He dug down deep and unleashed another barrage of a sustained optic blast, hammering the creature with everything that he had. As Icon pressed his attack, Endgame roared in anger and frustration even as he returned fire with an optic blast of his own.

As the optic blast counters Icon's own attack, a devastating blow, Michael thinks it is time to take action. What Icon is thinking is foolish. He cannot do this on his own. But as he slowly starts to levitate, he stops for a brief moment. He looks up at the wormhole created, that seems to increase with size overtime. It could naturally envelope everything and everyone if it's not somehow stopped. So Michael re-assures himself that he needs to finally act.

His angel-fire wings igniting intensely, the Guardian known as Archangel accelerates the skies, flying past Icon who had just received another brutal blow.

"MICHAEL! What are you doing!?"

"Saving your ass."

With the mighty winds Michael slashes at Endgame that creates a nasty wound at the creatures collarbone, but it doesn't cause it to falter and he swats him back with sheer ease. The wind still in his control, he rides along it, guiding him back at Endgame with ferocity and agility, flying around him to create a vortex hoping to suck the air from Endgame's lungs. But the metahuman creature is not like anything they have ever seen or faced, and as Michael tries his futile attack, soon he is grabbed by the throat...again with sheer ease. Much like before.

"Hehehehe..."

'Hehehehe'. Those are the last words Michael Angelo hears on this world. Naturally, Michael tries to come up with one of his witty retorts. You know, try to throw the enemy off balance by distracting them. But he cannot even utter a whisper to cry out for help. As a tear runs down his cheek, Endgame wipes it away, tasting it on his lips, smiles with complete glee, and crushes Michael's windpipe. Then, he grabs him with his other hand at the torso, and starts to pull until--

His eyes open.

"AHH!!"

Breathing heavy, I sit up...my Go--thank God it was just a dream. The fact that I'm...not ripped in half and that my vocal chords are still intact make that more than clear. But as I turn my attention towards Flux who lies in bed with me...it's clear she has been awake long enough.

"You had...the nightmare again, didn't you? The one you refuse to talk about."

"How long--"

"23 seconds this time, Michael. I saw only 23 seconds of the indescribable agony you seemed to be going through. And honestly...this time I wish I had missed it. Whatever goes on in your head, your brain feels is real, and when it does, and you begin to channel those emotions--"

"I know! I get it! You start to feel it too."

I get up from the bed. Water. I just...need some damn water.

"Don't walk away from me again!"

"You know! Just once...it would be nice if--"

I stop...but it is already way too late. I've played this card before...we've had this spout before every damn time I get out of wack and don't think before I act. Lowering my head, and slowly turning over, I am ready to make my apology but then Flux interjects right away.

"What...if your girlfriend wasn't an empath? If she couldn't know what you were feelign 24/7? If for once you could tell a lie and get away with it?"

"Babe, that's not what I meant, it's just--"

She gets up from the bed, and suddenly I crash down to the floor...with no strength to lift myself up. If it wasn't for what the flooring of the Guardian HQ was made out of...I could be several feet under right about now. Gravity manipulation...she can only do that when she's angry.

And frankly? She has every right to be. And I deserve to be here anyway...my face smacked down and into the ground. I remain laying on the floor even after gravity is back to normal.

Just like my dream...I deserve to be 10 feet under.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCorpulent1

Aquaman can only be whole when he loses that hand again and reclaims the super-awesome water hand. It's one of comics' great paradoxes.

David stood there in his bedroom, admiring how well his costume looked in the mirror.He's spent days awaiting this very moment, and now he finds himself looking in the mirror while Katherine sits on the bed with a large grin on her face.Most of the equipment, the pants, boots,etc, was easy to get ahold of;because when you live in a city where people walk about shooting death beams and throwing cars at each other, there's a high demand for survival gear.The vest was a different story entirely,getting the chemicals to form a protective layer over the vest was the easy part, having to explain to his girlfriend why their kitchen table was dissolved in chemicals was another thing entirely.

"And you tell me I spend to much time in front of the mirror."

"You still do, but that doesn't mean I don't look good in this"

He does a few more poses in the mirror before turning around to face her.

"How do I look?"

She walks over and wraps her arms around him.

"You look like the hero that Gotham deserves."

They share a laugh and a quick kiss.

"Are you sure you're ok with me doing this?"

"Eh, as long as it gets you outta the house and away from my non-melted furniture "

She gives him a halfhearted smile and embraces him.

"I don't have to read your mind to tell that you're worried"

They remained there for a moment, locked in a tender moment. It wasn't along until he could hear the muffled sobs from his shoulder. He could not bear that sound so he led with mind into his beloved's.

Please don't cry babe

He pulls her away and looks her straight in the eyes, pointing at his temple.

"You'll be in here the entire time ok?"

She wipes the tears from her eyes and smiles,this time it's genuine.

"Just be careful alright? "

"I'm always careful babe"

"And try not to ruin that coat of yours it took me 3 hours so sew that."

She traces the outline of the freshly sewn "N" on the trenchcoat.

"You still haven't told me what that stands for."

In due time love, in due time"

"I love you"

"Love you too"

He departs from his department via the stairs and ventures to his vehicle.Upon entering he immediately flips a switch on an old police scanner in the passenger seat, and drove off.Wondering where to start off David decides to venture downtown.

After three hours it became apparent that it was gonna be a long night. All that was on the scanner was petty crimes that were already being dealt with by either the police or the various metahumans in the area.David realized that scanner was useless now and turned it off. Instead letting his mind scan his surroundings for strong negative emotions. Not even twenty minutes passed when it hit him. Greed. Greed and Desperation flooded his mind. It made his stomach churn but he knew that was his target,he narrowed his mind and focused on those emotions.There was something very wrong here, and even though he thought it was corny....There was evil afoot.

__________________

Spoiler!!! Click to Read!:

PROUD WEBB-HEAD

Member of the Panettiere PatrolFirst Lieutenant of the NHO Resistance
<PM me for info>

"As long as you care you can't acheive greatness"
"You don't even know the nothing you can't do"8-26-07

There was something both terrifying and liberating about climbing in the foothills without equipment. They had both brought their harnesses and ropes, but upon arriving in the narrow passes between the giant boulders and massive cliff faces they both loved so well, they had decided the equipment could stay on the ground. It lay unused in their backpacks, next to their chalk and water bottles.

Molly-Ann pulled herself over a low overhang, flagging her left foot under her right to steady herself on the precarious ledge on which her right foot now clung with the toe of her rock shoes. She would have liked to stop and take a breath, but her fingers clenched onto barely-there crimps, her fingertips and right toes responsible for keeping the rest of her suspended some 20 feet in the air. This sort of position was liberating. The rock was sturdy, and there was a sort of fairness in knowing that if you fell and died, it was your own damn fault.

Molly-Ann pushed herself up and reached with her right hand, grabbing a slightly larger crimper near her head that let her relax a little. There was something about climbing that Molly-Ann equated with meditation (which she had never tried). On the wall, with nothing but your own focus and skill keeping you from falling to the ground, there was no room to think of anything else. There was nothing. Nothing but rock and skin. The smell of sweat and chalk and the ancient, earthy smell of stone. For Molly-Ann, it was better than drugs (which she still used, despite Katie's disapproval). The high lasted almost as long, there weren't the after effects, and Molly-Ann didn't lose any of her awareness.

She hoisted herself over the boulder's topout, a solid 25 feet above the hard gravel, and rolled onto the solid stone. Breathing heavily, Molly-Ann lay splayed on top of the boulder, looking up between the higher rocks to the sky above. It was only then that she noticed the clouds rolling in, low and fast. It was going to rain, and in the narrow pass in which they were climbing, there was a very real danger of a washout.

“Jason!” She shouted from over the cliff.

“I see it! We better get going if we're going to make it out of here!

Molly-Ann rolled onto her side and found a solid down-climb; an area of the cliff that was significantly easier to climb down than the way she had just climbed up. She dropped the last three feet to the ground, rushing to meet Jason by the backpacks and pick up their equipment.

They started trekking back to the car as the huge raindrops began to fall, cascading down the rocks and making miniature rivers in the dirt underfoot.

“We're not going to make it before it gets worse.” Jason said doubtfully.

Molly-Ann nodded, looking around with her friend. “Looks like there's a cave up there. We can bivy and wait out the storm.”

The rain had reached nearly torrential proportions by the time Molly-Ann and Jason settled themselves into the mouth of the cave. It was low and deep, and high enough off the floor of the small canyon that they would be safe from any flash flooding. Molly-Ann tossed her equipment against the wall of the cave and sat down, loosening her climbing shoes. The leather had gotten wet in the rain and the mud, and was beginning to pull at her skin.

“Well, we're not going anywhere for a while.” Molly-Ann looked bored as she watched the rain cascade down in front of the cave.

“We could always screw.” Jason shrugged. Molly-Ann threw her shoe at him. It wasn't an unreasonable request on Jason's part. Sex had continued to be a semi-regular facet of their relationship, even after they had broken up years ago. Only since Molly-Ann and Katie had made things official six months ago had their late night trysts stopped, and though Jason had no desire to rekindle any kind of romantic relationship with Molly-Ann, he had to admit he was feeling the effects of the drought. It was unlike them to go so long without it, even if they were both in relationships with other people. Jason wondered if this was because of Katie or Molly-ann.

They sat in silence for an hour or so before Molly-Ann stood, stretching her arms over her head and shifting her weight from side to side. She turned and looked back into the depths of the cave.

“I'm gonna go poke around.” She declared.

“Bad idea.” Jason protested. “Bad, bad, bad idea.”

Molly didn't listen to him as she opened their backpacks and pulled out two lengths of climbing rope. She handed the end of one of the ropes to Jason.

[COLOR="DarkRed)"]“Relax.”[/COLOR] She said “You hang on to this end, and I won't get lost.”

With that she began her slow and uncertain exploration of the cave. Jason tried to swallow the bad feeling lurking in the back of his throat as the rain beat hammers upon the rocks.

I've stopped three attempted robberies, two attempted church burnings, and one domestic disturbance. Think it might time to call it a night.

Just then Deacon Hawk says through her Neural Net, "Eve we just got an interesting e-mail. Need you back here at the Church right away."

Eve says, "Deacon I just got out here a few hours ago. I did my downtime and besides it's been forever since I just rolled through the city."

Deacon says with a growl in his voice, "Eve get back here now!"

Eve says, "Okay I'm enroute."

Deacon shuts down the ink and Brother Paul says, "I decoded the main frame traces and all the other clues. There's no doubt sir Collins is getting ready to make his move sooner than later. This was his subtle of letting us know."

Deacon says, "I know. We need to discuss strategy and options."

Brother Paul says, "I'll do everything I can to beef up Eve's weaponary and defenses, but...."

Deacon says, "I know we just have to have faith ln this one."

__________________
Know yourself & your enemy & you need not fear the outcome of a thousand battles-- General Sun-Tzu

White teeth shone through in stark contrast of the dark black balaklava as the Vigilante broke into a wide-mouthed leer. In a better mood he might just make a witty retort… but he was not in a better mood.

“What are you smiling about?”

“I’m just thinking about punching your nose right through your brain…”

Agent Hawkes put his hand over his sidearm in alarm.

“…and the feeling of warmth that that thought is giving me, is one of the few things keeping me from making it a reality… Bobby.”

Just ahead of the pair the Survivor turned around and realised two were missing.

“Aww hell…”

The Blue Blur acted as his name sake and was immediately between the pair.

“You’re a big man when you’ve got a bunch of super powered…” the agent fired back.

“Idiot. They’re the only thing keeping me from destroying you.” His eyes fixed on one place – the gun. “Just give me a reason…” he thought, but the opportunity never came. The agent was too disciplined for that, even if he wasn’t above his initial comment.

“Alright, alright. Your tour’s over.” The woman in the lab coat said.

“…you should probably be briefed on your assignment anyway. Will you be alright to show the rest around by yourself, Cole?”

“And will you be alright as well, Agent Hawkes? Or do we have to find you something else to do?”

The use of “Agent Hawkes” went a long way to soothing the situation, even when coupled with the rather patronising following statement. He nodded to the doctor and glared at the black garbed Guardian who returned a dismissive smirk as the Doctor led him back to the Director’s office.

---------------------------

“Back already?”

“Just eager to find out what exactly it is you want me to do…”

“Really..?” The Director gave the doctor a look, reading the anxiety in her face.

“…and I’m done playing Alpha-Male. …For now.”

“Well, that’s something… Doctor, could you wait outside for a few minutes. There’s some things I’m going to want to discuss in private with Mr Vigilante here for a few minutes, I’ll call you back in over the intercom when you’ll be required for your part of the briefing.”

The Doctor turned and quietly ushered herself out.

"You too, Alberts." The Director added.

"Sir..?" Alberts uttered, looking somewhat hurt that he was being made to leave.

"With the doctor outside the new assets are currently in the care of Agent Cole..."

Alberts looked wide-eyed in the realisation of this fact and quickly scurried off, catching the door before it closed behind the doctor.

Isaac waited for it to close behind him before he broke the silence.

“Mr Vigilante..?”

“Well… unless you want to provide me with another name, I’m just attempting to put forward some civility.”

“Fair enough, Mr Director.”

“It doesn’t work that way. ‘Director’s a title.”

“Well, with no hope of civility on my end I’m pretty sure I can think of some good things to call a man who’s trying to yank my chain.”

The Director laughed. “Not the response I was looking for.” Isaac thought, trying to stare through the laughter to see if it was covering any irritation at all. Seeing none, Isaac found his own irritation in the Director’s laugh. Big, bold and brassy. Knew he was in control and planned on keeping things that way. Isaac seethed silently.

“I bet you can. Very well then, Mr Director will be fine…”

“Now about this assignment…” The Vigilante uttered, trying to mask his frustration.

“Hmm… you are eager to get into it… How do you feel about Hawaii?”

__________________
[/JOKE]

16,18, not much difference mentally or physically. It's a number over there. Here however it's the difference between mid life crisis with hot chicks with daddy issues and pound me in the ass prison. - Anubis

More Anubis' greatest hits:
"Families are Gods way of teaching us to get along with people we don't particularly like."

“Are you sure that Kid-Quick is in this area?” I have been running around this city for a good 10 to 15 minutes trying to catch up with her but she doesn’t seem to be anywhere in sight.“She is, you’re just going to slow. I advise you to go faster.” Phoenix replies as he uses his satellite in sky to fallow my and Kid-Quick movements.

Faster? Last time I checked kid-Quick wasn’t that fast and if I’m not mistaken I’m the second fastest person in the world. Catching up with her should be simple. Guess her speed must have increase since our last meeting.“She’s just ahead of you. From the looks of things she is on the move and doing it very quickly. Also it appears she is in trouble and is in need of help. So I’ll say it again GO FASTER!”

Well when he says it like that I guess going faster is the thing to do.
In an instant knowing that this recruiting mission is now a rescue I quickly take the situation more seriously. As I begin to use my accelerated probability to its full potential everything around me that was in color is now seen through my eyes in black and white. To my surprise there is one thing in color. It’s something of an energy trail. I’ve seen this kind of energy trail before when I was in the “World’s Fastest Race”. All the speedster’s had a type of energy force around them. This energy signature that I’m gazing at now belongs to Kid-Quick. From the strength of its glow compared to last time she must have gotten a lot faster. With the trail visible for me to see my accelerated probability instantly analyzes the environment and sets a path for me to take to quickly reach Kid-Quick. Once the path is completely set before me I dash off with insane speed to aid a fellow hero.

While running just ahead of me I see two figures moving with incredible speed. By the looks of things it appears that one is being chased down and that one looks like Kid-Quick. But for someone to be chasing her at this kind of speed it would mean it’s another speedster but if that was the case I would be seeing the same energy that every speedster gives off, from this person I see nothing. I don’t have time to worry about that now I have to figure out what’s going on.

As I begin to gain distance on the two, I see whoever is chasing Kid-Quick down finally catches up with her. The person grabs her by the arm and spins in a circle and releases her in the direction of a side building. Right as she is about to come face first with the wall I catch her right before the moment of impact.

She opens her eyes and sees me holding her.“Youngster? I really wish you didn’t come here.” She tells me as I place her down.“I will admit that wasn’t the reaction I was looking for.”“It’s not that I’m not happy to see you it’s just that machine have the ability to copy metahumans powers. With you being here you are only going to make it stronger.”

It’s a machine that explains the reason why it didn’t give off on type of signature.“AL, analyze the robot for me and tell me what you get.”“Right away sir.”

Even if it does copy my powers there is something I know it won’t be able to copy. Question is why is it standing there doing nothing?“KQ since you encountered the robot has it ever acted like this?”“You mean just stand there and doing nothing? No it never has. Since I met it the only thing it has been trying to do is kill me.”

Now all of a sudden it’s not doing anything? It must be analyzing the situation. With me showing up I’m a variable that it didn’t count on so it may be calculating on what to do.
“Sir I was unable to analyze your request.”“That’s a new one. Doesn’t matter I’ll get what I want from it the old fashion way.” I step in front of Kid-Quick and slightly move her to the side.

“Get a good distance behind me I’ll handle it from here.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

Something about this situation doesn’t seem right so that can only mean one thing.

I take off towards the machine throwing rapid punches. Its only reaction is to dodge it appears that it doesn’t want to attack or either it’s afraid to. I stop my assault and come to a stop in front of it and it does nothing, just like I assumed it would. Once again I take off towards it again and as it appears that I’m about to throw another blow I vanish from in front of it to behind it in a blink of an eye. Now that I have the advantage I grab its head and rip it off its shoulders shutting it down.“Well you made it look so simply.” Kid-Quick says with a look on her telling me I made it look to easy.“Since it copied your powers it may have made it quicker but don’t forget I’m faster than you.” I say with a smile.

I kneel down and dissemble the machine down to the last bolt in no time and pull my scanner out of my pocket so AL can do what he does best.“Besides reason why it was so easy was because from what I gathered it can only copy one person’s power at a time. That’s why it didn’t make a move on me. It must have realized it was no match.”“That’s a good thing it couldn’t get your powers. So if you don’t mind why are you all the way out here? I’m pretty sure you didn’t come to say hi.”“I have been looking for you because I want you to be part of my team.”“You mean you want me to be a Guardian? This is amazing I knew that one day this…”

Before she can continue I cut her off. “No no no not part of the Guardians. I and the Phoenix have got together and we decided that with everything that took place the world needs a new group of heroes to protect them. So he has been having me running around the world find the perfect people to help us have a well balanced team.”“I see so will this team have any kind of connection with the Guardians since your still one of them?”“After he died I… after everything that has happened I decided to leave the Guardians and find my own path. I realize that there is a lot of evil out there and one major hero team is not going to be enough. I want to help people and I know that the best way to do that is to be part of a team. I learned that from being with the Guardians.” Truth is Youngster is no longer part of the Guardians but the Mighty Samson is. After Icon died I knew I could no longer be part of the team but with Icon gone they would still need a power house that is on Icon’s level. So being that Vigilante is now the only person who knows about that side of me I gave him a way to get in contact with me if Samson is ever needed. It sucks that I can only be in my Samson form no longer than 3 hours out of 24 hour days. With that being the case I’m pretty much a superhero on call.“I will admit this solo thing is hard and having help would be nice. I’m in so what do I have to do?”

I reach in my right pocket and hand her a GPS device. “When that goes off just go to the location it displays.”“Great I can’t wait to get this started. But till then if you don’t mind handling things here I have some stuff I have to take care messing with that thing got me side tracked.”“Go head.” I tell her as she takes off.

The important thing is to figure out about these machines, last thing we need is for robots around the world with powers and we don’t even know who is controlling them. “Phoenix it’s me.” I say after activating my comm link.“Who else would it be? We never gave anyone else any comm links.”“Right, anyways I have something you’re going to want to see.”“You know where I’ am I’ll see you when you get here.”

Colter enters the chamber where Adam is finishing one of his treatements.

Adam stands up and puts on his robe and takes a deep beath and begis to lumber towards Colter.

Adam asks, "Is everything uploaded to my I-Pad?"

Colter replies, "Yes Sir. The latest Stock Report and I also sent you a copy of the latest notes from the Board of Directors meeting from yesterday."

Adam replies, "Excellent. After dinner and I read through everything I think the scrambler just might be ready to for a test run before we put it into use. Did your sources get you the information I wanted?"

Eve parks The Serpent and heads into the control room where Deacon Hawk is sipping on a cup of coffee.

Eve asks, "All-right Deacon why did you order me back here?"

Hawk hands her an e-mail.

The e-mail states:

The day of reckoning is at hand for the Golden Girl.
Her defeat will be swift and decisive.
The days of The Society are numbered.
The wolf will destory the lamb.
The Shepherd will not be able to save her.
The Wrath of God will be nothing compared to mine.

--The Phoenix has spoken

Eve studies it and gives it back to Hawk.

Hawk says, "Brother Paul ran test after test on it and there is no doubt this is from Arron Collins. We have no idea what he is capable of at this time, but with a billion dollar tech cooperation at his disposal and all his connections I don't mind saying this is most troubling."

Eve realzing the gravity of the situation doesn't even try to make any jokes.

She asks, "What's the call?"

Deacon replies, "Brother Paul is working on ways to beef up your systems, and I've considered taking you out of action for the time being."

Eve responds, "What? And let this psycho know he got to us? Deacon why was I created?"

Hawk replies, "There are many levels to that answer Eve."

Eve replies, "Wasn't one of them to combat guys like him? And now that we have to put our money where our mouths are we're ready to turn tail and run. What about having faith and pushing on in the name of the good fight?"

Hawk takes a deep breath and nods, "I know. But Collins is a different kind of threat on so many levels."

Eve asks, "How so? Just because he was so close to you and Brother Paul and the Society?"

Brother Paul enters the room and says, "Not just closeness Eve, but Collins knows things about all of us that makes him a threat unlike any other you have faced so far, or probably ever will."

Brother Paul begins uploading several lines of programming into the computer and says, "Imagine if during World War II MacArthur had deserted the Allies to join the Japanese forces, or Patton decided to join with The Nazis. That's the kind of threat we're talking about right now."

Eve nods and says, "All-right then. What's our next move, and no one better say a thing about taking me off-line again."

Brother Paul says, "Take your diagnostic time now. I am going to link in with your Neural Net and upgrade some progams that might help out. It's not a guarantee but it will help. We'll be keeping a close eye on you. We do reserve the right to take you off-line if we feel that The Society's secrecy is being threatened."

Eve says with great sarcasm in her voice, "Oh don't worry I'm sure I'll be fine. Heaven Forbid I get wiped out but as long as the Society secrecy is preserved."

Deacon says, "Eve we will do all that we can to protect and aid you. I promise you that. You are so valuble to us on so many levels, but you must also be mindful of the big picture as we must do the same. You were killed to save your family once, would you do it again but this time for the greater good?"

Eve replies, "Of course I would."

She looks at Brother Paul and says, "Sorry about snapping at you."

Brother Paul nods and says, "I understand. You know if anything happened to you I would be very upset, and not just because you've got my circuits and programming in you."

Eve says, "I know."

Deacon Hawk says, "All-right now that we got all that out of our way let's get to work."

Eve nods and leavs the control room and lays down on the table as Brother Paul uploads his programming.

__________________
Know yourself & your enemy & you need not fear the outcome of a thousand battles-- General Sun-Tzu

“Pfft… Putting me on ‘leave’, ‘forced vacation time’, 'compulsory time off'… Whatever you want to call it…” The Vigilante said, his fingers twitching out air quotes like a Parkinson’s Disease victim.

“No.” The Director repeated. “We have a legitimate assignment located in Hawaii. Let me finish, because we have to drag the Doctor back in here. Believe it or not, the whole world doesn’t stop around here just because we’ve inherited your team.”

“Drafted.”

The Director gave a stony glare, met by the Vigilante’s smart arsed smirk. Powerful silence resounds before the Director begins again.

“The assignment should be one night - assuming it goes successfully, you will be extracted and given up to a month’s official quarantine. Unofficially, the quarantine period will be only 48 hours. At which point you will be free for the remainder of that month, barring emergencies of course, to drift off to wherever it is you go whenever you're not swinging between buildings or punching two bit thugs in Lost Haven.”

“So you ARE putting me on holiday?”

“No. I’ve just learnt from past experiences that first impressions count and that sometimes it’s easier to work WITH people in your situation than to have them fighting me all the way. We both know you’ll have to be back here anyway.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because you know I could strip back that voice sample I have if I so choose. And like I said, couldn’t you do with that time off to get back to wherever it is you go? Barbados? Fiji? …Terraria?”

The Vigilante froze.

“…Cooktown, Terraria.” The Director added his home town - A smaller city within the nation of his birth. That was no coincedence. The Vigilante’s left eye twitched as he struggled to contain his fury, uncharacteristically still incapable of speech.

The Director rolled the mouse, as the smartscreen jumped from its blacked out dormant state. Double clicked on a folder and entered his password.

At least it was protected… Isaac thought, trying hard to watch the fat man’s fingers on the keyboard to catch his password. It was no good, the fat man’s fingers were a blur. He double clicked on a movie file and the screen jumped into action. It was a shaky, somewhat grainy movie of Isaac on top of Russ Williams, the head of the Knaves – the most organised gang in his home city, after he’d just thrown him out of a first story building onto the roof of a car. Isaac rolls off of him, yells something inaudible to the camera, gives a parting scowl and then uses his grapple gun to swing away.

15 seconds. 15 seconds, and he was only visible for 8, but it’s enough to jeopardise everything.

“Because that is you, isn’t it?”

“You know!” A dark hiss spat through the voice modulator so violent that it broke into static.

“Only that that’s you.” The Director soothed. “…and what’s more I’m the only one. That footage was on youtube for a period of 1 hour and fifteen minutes. It had only 16 viewers. But none of them can remember seeing that video… and the person who recorded it has no recollection either. One of our analysts picked it up last month. And he won’t recall ever doing so either…”

“In fact, the only two people in the world who have access to or can remember seeing that video… Are in this room.”

“How?”

“Before I give you an answer, think about whether you really want to know.”

“So where does this put us?”

“Hopefully, where you were five minutes ago. You want to go do this assignment, get yourself some free time to take care of business back home and then come back and take care of business here.”

“Only now you know…”

“Only where you go when you “can’t be reached for 24 hours”. I still don’t know who you are.”

“And why should I believe that?”

“Why would I lie about that? If I knew, it would be more leverage on you in this situation, wouldn’t it?”

True…

“But what’s to stop you finding out?”

“Nothing. But what was to stop me finding out before? It’s one of those things you’re just going to have to chalk up to blind faith…”

“Not my strong suit...”

The Director sighed. “Alright, if it makes you feel better I’d rather not know.”

“And why’s that? Why should I believe that?”

“Because unlike some of the other people we’ve attained through means outside of recruitment. You can fight. Like a demon from what I hear. We’ve ‘drafted’ people from various nefarious backgrounds before. But not anyone who could fight like you. Frankly, if you have any kind of sordid past I’d rather hold on to my blissful ignorance, continue using you out in the field and maintain plausible deniability.”

“Again, why should I believe that?”

“I don’t care if you do believe it. Regardless, we’re done with that… unless you want to continue in front of the Doctor..?” The Director ended the conversation abruptly and hit the intercom.

“We’re ready for you now Doctor, come on in.”

__________________
[/JOKE]

16,18, not much difference mentally or physically. It's a number over there. Here however it's the difference between mid life crisis with hot chicks with daddy issues and pound me in the ass prison. - Anubis

More Anubis' greatest hits:
"Families are Gods way of teaching us to get along with people we don't particularly like."

I wake up, with the bed space beside me empty...and I'm not surprised. I was a jerk. What I am slightly surprised is...how she didn't 'let me have it'. I was clearly in the wrong. Clearly taking out my frustrations in the wrong way and refusing to open up about them. But...Chrissy didn't do a thing. Even though she was in the right to.

Oh, crap. I'm doing what one should never do. I'm comparing my current relationship with past ones.

...aaaaand now I can't stop thinking about that. The differences. The similarities. The happy moments. The sad ones. The 'man you really messed up now' ones. I was with Grace for years...now it's been about a half a year with Chrissy. And to my luck there haven't been as many fights. Though the first several months are supposed to be easy anyway, right? It gets easier to fight with someone you love because you love them so. As strange as it is. Although...my relationship with Chrissy has been very different in every aspect possible. Could the sole reason be that she's an alien? Not saying it is a culture differences exactly...but in that she has a easier way of relating and coping with the things we go through doing this hero gig?

*DEET DEET DEET*

That's the alert ring on my Guardian comm-link. The new guys in charge's way of saying 'get to work'. I get up, and wash my face with some cold water for a moment to truly wake up.

So much has changed within The Guardians since the big nasty Battle Royale between Icon and that S.T.R.I.K.E. experiment. The Government has gotten much more involved in our operations, as though we were some CIA spec ops group doing all this hero stuff for a salary. 'Save the day, make some benjamins' type of deal. But I have little use for a government salary. So they already know to give my 'earnings' to the orphanage I was left at as an infant.

"Morning."

The awkward 'morning'. That's how I chose to talk to Flux after last night? Utterly brilliant you moron.

"...good morning, babe."

"Looks like the Director has me on babysitting duty today."

"Babysitting?"

"Yea, some midget performer at the traveling circus that is in town. They think that he's a meta and want me to put my wings to good use and perch on a nearby tree or something and find out what I can about him, I don't know. Frankly I'm hating the whole concept of receiving 'missions'. Plus from the dossier I got on the guy he wears a blue leotard. So I don't know how I'm going to be able to concentrate when all I'm really going to be doing is trying to stop myself from instead seeing a life-sized Smurf."

I grab a milk from the fridge as Chrissy is scrambling some eggs and pour myself and her a glass.

"We made the choice to stay, Michael. You and I. We agreed on it and I left my home in San Diego to make this work."

"...you think he would be ashamed of us? I mean...I've no doubt that he's in Heaven but I've been too...let's just say I haven't tried to use my connections to see if I could be a bother. Here I am, like some government lap dog being told where I am to defend instead of being a citizen to the World."

"Sco--Icon...if all you did was stand atop the Guardian HQ in the Archangel State day and night just to remind the World that justice is watching...he would be proud. Is that what this is all about, babe? Icon? Last night?"

*DEET DEET DEET*

I sigh...but honestly this kinda saves my ass. I answer my comm and quickly answer the big guys in...well I don't know quite where The Director and the other guys pulling out strings are now, but as always I make sure to give them a piece of my mind.

"I'm not a performing monkey, you know."

"Haha. As charming as ever. We simply wanted to know if you needed your coordinates because--"

"I've got them right here. I even drew a dry face on the map connecting the dots. Ironic, isn't it? I mean...couldn't you give this mission to Youngster?"

"He was a possible candidate for this mission, but...at the same time that could put the general public at greater risk. Our intel makes us believe that this meta may be more powerful than you are willing to believe. Sending someone such as yourself...given the origins of your abilities...well, you are our ace in a hole."

Right about now I wish I was the 2 of clubs.
"I'm heading over right now. And I swear...if you guys buzz me again, I'll--I'll...let one rip that I'm holding right now just for you."

"Michael!"

I cover up the comm, and answer back to Chrissy.

"I'm kidding...I just let one rip now I couldn't even hold it in for 3 seconds it was hurting so bad. Quiet...deadly."

I mouth 'sorry' to my gal and The Director finishes up.

"Haha...good luck, Archangel--zzt."

Putting the comm-link down at the counter, I look over at Chrissy, and take her hand.

"...when I get back from this nonsense of a mission, I'll talk about last night...and the past several random incidents. Ok? I'm real sorry I've been such an ass, babe."

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCorpulent1

Aquaman can only be whole when he loses that hand again and reclaims the super-awesome water hand. It's one of comics' great paradoxes.

Colter says, "I thought once you defeated her that your obsession might be at an end."

Phoenix without looking at him says, "No my friend. Defeating her was to be a means to an end. Her Neural Net is unlike any kind of computer ware that the world has ever known. It works in perfect sync with the biological aspects of her brain while also helping her in her cybernetic abilities along with so many other qualities. Brother Paul took what I started with and took it to not only the next level, but at least 3 levels above that. Most impressive indeed."

Colter asks, "You're going to try and build your own?"

Phoenix replies, "Once I crack the technical codes and figure out the parts. Eventually but we are years away from that one. I just marvel at what my former pupil has done. I even a sense of pride for him, and for what I accomplished this day."

Colter says, "You were most impressive sir."

Phoenix says, "Thank you my friend. Hawk though he still troubles me."

Colter says, "As you said earlier they had been dealt a crushing blow."

Phoenix stands up and walks to Colter, "And that's true to a point. Hawk is a dangerous man in any situation, and a cunning warrior. Truly a worthy adversary and worthy of my attention, and right now he is wounded, but if there is one thing I've learned and that is there is nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal. Hawk will not take this laying down. He will be seeking a re-match."

Colter nods and Phoenix says, "Begin increasing your profile in and around the city. Hawk may start showing up when you do. Let him know we are still here, and see what he does."

Colter asks, "Should we be concerned about Eve coming back?"

Phoenix scuffs and says, "She has been dealt with. She was spirited, but I doubt we will be seeing her again anytime soon. Eve is no longer an issue for me."

__________________
Know yourself & your enemy & you need not fear the outcome of a thousand battles-- General Sun-Tzu

Brother Paul is laboring over a keyboard and studying a computer monitor in the auxiliary base. To say it is spartan is to be kind, but this base was only designed to be used in case of emergencies which Hawk & Paul are currently facing.

Eve lays on a lab table mouthing numbers but with no sound coming out of her.

Deacon Hawk enters the room and says to Brother Paul, "I see you finally got her to stop saying 'click here' what did you do?"

Paul replies without looking up from his work, "I have a sub-routine in the Neural Net that I was able to access. I gave the Neural Net a new order."

Hawk asks, "And what was that?"

Brother Paul replies, "I told it to count to the last digit of Pi."

Hawk nods and says, "And since there is no last digit to Pi..."

Brother Paul says, "It will busy for sometime while I try to fix the damage. Deacon he really, to be blunt, screwed her up. Viruses, Spam, you name it it's here."

Deacon asks, "Can you fix it?"

Paul replies, "Maybe."

Deacon nods and says, "I talked to the Council in Vatican City."

Paul stops and looks at Deacon and waits for Deacon to speak.

Hawk says, "They acknowledged that I was right to deem Collins, or Phoenix as they now call him as well, as a threat all those years ago, but stopped just short of saying they were wrong or apologizing."

Paul nods his head and says, "Of Course."

Hawk continues, "I think I should get points alone for not saying 'I told you so', but I digress. They want Phoenix stopped however they agree with me that stopping is not going to be easy and there is a plan in the works to deal with the aftermath."

Paul asks, "Aftermath?"

Hawk says, "Phoenix's company is a global entity, and with it being based here in Lock Haven if Phoenix were to go to jail the economic losses and job losses would be catastrophic. As I said though there is a plan in the works."

Paul asks, "What about Eve?"

Hawk takes a deep breath and says, "The council said you have three weeks to get her back up and running or it's all over."

Paul is stunned as he mouths "three weeks".

Hawk nods and Paul says, "Unreal. Forget the primitive equipment here, to fix the damage alone I'd need at least 6 months of uninterrupted work just to get started, and rebuilding The Serpent is not going to be a lot of fun either. There is the bigger concern."

Hawk asks, "What's that?"

Paul replies, "Deacon she is half-human. What he did to her in taking her apart, damaging her Neural Net to almost the point of beyond repair which has affected her mind, her pain sensors are lit up like a Christmas tree, and the physical beating. The psychological damage is going to be the hardest part to repair and that is something I can't control. Ethically."

Hawk says, "The Serpent I can do. I know how to fix motorcycles and if I recall you once said that if The Serpent was put back together after being destroyed the A-I would take care of the computer aspects. Now what is this about ethic issues that you have?"

Brother Paul replies, "You're right about the Serpent. Concerning Eve I have a program where I can wipe out her memory completely. She would forget her life as Cassie Yates, meeting us, the work she has done, and Phoenix. She would be a blank slate, and I would implant commands and training in manually. I don't know though if I have the right to make that decision for someone else."

Deacon says, "If it means getting her back then..."

Brother Paul looks crushed as Deacon says, "I don't like it either, but time is not on our side. We don't have many options left."

Brother Paul bows his head and enters a series of command and says, "Read to mind-wipe on your command, sir."

"Sir" is said with a great deal of respect being lost.

Deacon bows his head and says, "God have mercy. Proceed."

Just as Brother Paul reaches over to hit "enter" a very human sounding Eve says, "Please help me Brother Paul. Help me. Help me please."

Paul and Deacon look at Eve as she slightly turns her head and says, "Help me...please. Don't take my memories. Help me. Please. Save my memories please help me."

Paul looks at Deacon who says, "You heard the lady Paul. Help her out."

Paul smiles and says, "You bet. I must've done enough repairs to get some of her Neural Net back on-line."

Deacon says, "Or it could be the Human Spirit is really stronger than we know."

“This is the most important item you’ll be carrying.” The Director said, holding up a small device.

“You can fit a parachute in there..?” Isaac uttered with a smirk.

“This is the equal most important piece of equipment you’ll be carrying… it’s why you’ll be carrying a back-up, just like your parachute.”

“This is your communicator. If you fail to respond to any communication within 10 minutes, the order will be put forward to load incendiaries, a plane full of napalm and another with Mark 77s – there’s no chances being taken with this. Within 2 hours, wherever you are on the island will be well over one and a half thousand degrees and the air you’re trying to breathe will be on fire.”

“So don’t put you on ignore then… Got it…”

“If you don’t receive a confirmation of any communication being sent, assume it’s broken, head for the nearest beach and start swimming…”

“2 hours? That doesn’t give me much of a window…”

“Could be two hours… Depends on wind, can’t have napalm blowing across Maui. Two hours is the earliest the birds can be in the air though and the President is going to want to pull the trigger as early as possible to risk the blow back if any of this gets leaked.”

“Blowback?”

“Yeah, easier to deal with it if it’s already happened. If people know the situation you wind up with deliberation. Bi-partisan politics you’re giving others a chance to build a case against what you’re doing and build support for an alternative, even if an acceptable one doesn’t really exist. I don’t really envy him to be honest, torching American soil is never going to win you a popularity contest…”

“Your communicator fits… here.” The Director said, demonstrating. “And if it falls out on the jump you have a spare unit strapped in here. Any questions?”

“If there are people, where are they likely to be?”

“Ah, yes. This hut here, there’s a CB radio for contact with the other islands. The message we received came from there. Again, we’re not certain of the status of any people in that hut now though. Approach everyone with caution, everywhere on the island.”

"And if I DO find anyone alive?"

"There'll be a smallish speed-boat awaiting you, here, a safe distance off the coast on Maui's side of the island... unless communications go down, in which case he'll be looking to get out of there before the bombs drop. If you call in and start swimming, he'll find you and pick you and anyone you've found up. We can't afford to take a bigger boat though, for the risk of drawing too much attention to off-shore. Besides, smaller boat - nip in, nip out... no problems."

"Right... no problems..."

"So, all set? Your drop planes loaded up and good to go. You'll be briefed on how to make your drop in flight."

The Vigilante left the room, strapped with ammunition and equipment.

"So, what do you think of his chances?" The Director asked the older Colonel.

"Well, I think you've just sent that boy, who can't shoot a lick, to a grim demise at the hands and teeth of a bunch of hideous ghouls..." Gunny thought to himself.

"Ahh... he'll be fine. I was about to ask you the same. He's lived through worse. Right..?" He replied.

__________________
[/JOKE]

16,18, not much difference mentally or physically. It's a number over there. Here however it's the difference between mid life crisis with hot chicks with daddy issues and pound me in the ass prison. - Anubis

More Anubis' greatest hits:
"Families are Gods way of teaching us to get along with people we don't particularly like."